8 Building Blocks for a Small Business
June 7, 2016
This article was originally published on EO’s Inc.com column.
Morris Tabush, an Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) member from New York, is the founder a president of Tabush Group, a successful cloud computing, technology solutions and IT company focused on serving small businesses. We asked Morris what it would take for a small business to be able to grow and reach the next level of success.
Ever since my parents bought our first family computer back when I was a kid, I have been passionate about technology and assisting others. Throughout high school and college, I often found myself helping friends and neighbors learn how to use computers. In 2000, between my junior and senior years of college, I turned what I was passionate about into a real business, officially becoming an entrepreneur. I worked from my dorm room, providing IT services to small companies.
When I graduated with a degree in information systems in 2001, the Dot-Com bust was still lingering and the IT job market was rough, so I figured I would just continue doing what I was passionate about. I put US$25,000 of money I had saved up into renting a small office, and I hired my first employee. At the time, I didn’t have a business plan, or any sort of advisor, mentor or coach. I just followed my heart and went for it. Sixteen years later, I am proud to say that company has grown to be very successful.
I’ve been fortunate to have learned a lot along my entrepreneurial journey. Here are eight building blocks for anyone starting a business:
- Get a mentor. Or a business advisor or a coach. It doesn’t have to be someone professional, just someone who can share experiences, be there to bounce ideas off of and tell you when you’re losing focus.
- Be clear in your mission. There’s a reason you started a business and left your job (or didn’t try to find a new one). Why are you doing this? Keep in mind that your personal mission and your company’s mission can be different, as long as they’re aligned and can coexist.